Keeping alive the Islamic tradition of scholarship, insight, and purification...one day at a time.

Friday, December 17, 2010

LESSON OF THE DAY 1253

Ayahs of the Day:I swear by this city -- and you are a freeman in this city -- and by the one who begets, and the one he begets, We have indeed made man in distress. Does he assume no one has power over him? He says, "I have used up much money!" Does he assume no one sees him? Have We not made two eyes for him, and a tongue and two lips? [90: 1 to 9]

Hadith of the Day:Rights will be given to those whom they are owed on the Day of Judgment, even the hornless sheep will have retaliation from the horned sheep. [Muslim]

Wise Quote of the Day:No one is a companion of yours except the one who, while knowing your defects, is your companion, and that is only your generous Lord. The best one to take as a companion is He who does not seek you out for the sake of something coming from you to Him. [Ibn Ata'Allah]

Guidance of the Day:Appreciate your In-laws! It's easy to forget, yet if you love your spouse, you owe your in-laws an enormous debt of gratitude! If not for their bringing your spouse into the world, you would be with someone else, or alone. In most instances, it took your in-laws (or one of them) to raise your spouse. So, regardless of what you may think, they played a significant role in your spouse's upbringing.

Before you sarcastically think something like "That explains why my spouse has certain problems," keep in mind that the opposite is equally true. If you blame your in-laws for any issues your spouse struggles with, it's only fair to give them credit for his or her strengths as well. In addition, if you have children, their genes -- their physical makeup -- come, in part, from your in-laws. Without their contribution, your children would not be the people they are. If you think your kids are cute, and who doesn't think so, some of that cuteness, whether you want to believe it or not, comes from your in-laws.

I realize that all in-laws have certain difficult qualities. However, what choice do you have? You can continue to complain about your in-laws, make mean-spirited jokes about how difficult it is to have them, and wish that they were different -- or you can begin to focus less on their irritating quirks and characteristics and instead focus on that which you have to be grateful for. I believe the decision is an easy one. Stay focused on gratitude and my guess is that you'll be able to improve your existing relationships in a significant way. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:As you think, you travel, and as you love, you attract. You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. Our best friends and our worst enemies are our thoughts. A thought can do us more good than a doctor or a banker or a faithful friend. It can also do us more harm than a brick. God will help you if your try, and you can if you think you can.